Rotary internal-combustion engine



@April 6 17925-Z 'L F. A. BuLLlNGToN ROTARY INTERNAL coMBUTIoNENGINE i Filegd June 10, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l "ATTORNEY A ril 6 1926 p F. A. BULLINGTON ROTARY INTERNAL coMBUsTIoN ENGINE Filed June 1o. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE April 6, 192e.

' 1,579,207 F. A. -BuLLlNGToN ROTARY INTERNAL coM'BUsTloN ENGlNE Filed June 1:0, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented pr. 6, 1926.-

UNITED -STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. IBILLINGrTON,y OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 BULLING'TON MOTORS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A COMMON-LAW TRUST CONSISTING 0F SOLOMON STODDARD, ERNEST E. HOWARD, AND FRANK A. BULLINGTON.

ROTARY INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application led June 10,

To all 'whom't may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. BULLING- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Internal-Combustion Engines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to vmake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to prime movers for generating power and particularly to a motor in which an expansible motive fiuid is employed to impart motion to pistons which rotate about a common axis.

The particular type of motor involved includes cooperating pistons progressively rotatable about the axis of the power shaft, one piston having relatively accelerating movement with respect to the latter and the other having relatively retarded movement. The pistons, however, rotate `within the stator so that first one and then the other becomes the accelerated pisto`n ,y

The illustrated embodiment of the invention particularly relates to four cycle rotary combustion motors and the primary object of the invention is to provide means Vwhereby each piston will accelerate and retard at substantiallyv the same rate so that there will be a uniformapplication of` `the power generated within the motor to the driven shaft or power shaft so as to eliminate the liabilityof variation in the angular speed of the driven shaft during its rotation,

, as would be the case where there were pronounced variations in the accelerating and retardation of the complementary plstons 'between which the explosions take place.

My invention also contemplates means for connecting the pistons to the driven shaft of the motor bv suitable linkage or mechanism which will control the movements of the pistons about a common axis so that they will have relative movement to compress fuel charges to combustible pressures 1922. Serial No. 567,287.

form application of the expansive force of the ignited charges applied to complemenrotate the driven shaft with uniform application of power as well as to insure balanced rotative movementvof the pistons.

It is an important feature of .my invention that the linkage for connecting the pistons to the driven shaft have constant planetary movement about the axis of the driven shaft during the operating periods of the motor so that there will be no stationary parts to receive the impacts of the exploded charges, the constantly rotating connecting linkage planetating about the. axes of the pistons and the driven shaft .vill absorb the impact of the exploded. charges during their movement and during the time thatthere will be relative movement between the operating parts of the linkage so that a` hammer blow or direct impacting contact will not result as would be the tary pistons to thereby, throughthe linkage,

case where a stationary cam for example,I i

was the guiding element about which pins or shafts of the link members moves or Where a fixed gear received all of the force of the exploded charges from a pinion tooth.

In the construction illustrated in this application gears are shown but these gears do not receive the full impact from the exploded charges; they receive, however, a resultant force of the exploded charges. Such impact is absorbed in the linkage, the gears being utilized merely as delivering the resultant Working force or torque to the driven shaft of the motor and are important' parts in controlling the relative movements of the pistons and the resultant working forces delivered to the driven shaft.

It is further an important feature of this invention that the motor is made in a compact, well balanced manner, there being lnovel details of construction such as the bearings for sleeved shafts and the connections of the various parts -to the driven shafts, which will be specifically described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly in perspective of a motor constructed in accordancewith 1n invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectiona view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of motor.

The motor casing as distinct lfrom the crank shaft casing consists of two members 1 and 2, which may be connected together to form a cylinder 3, concentric with the axis of the motor. The member 1 is provided with a bearing collar-4, through which a shaft for one of the rotors projects. The engine casing, or piston casing, more correctly speaking, is adapted to be fastened to a cylindrical crank case 5 through the medium of suitable fastening devices, such as the bolts 6.

The crank case 5 is provided with feet 7 and 8 to be secured to a base or support and by reference to the drawings it will be observed that the crank case is concentric with the piston cylinder and, therefore, its axis is in line with the axis of the bearing 4 and it is provided with a bearing collar 4 in axial alignment with the collar 4. The collars 4 and 4, however, support dilferent shafts, as will be presently explained. l"

Within the cylinder 3 are pistons carried by parallel, independently movable rotors or discs 9 and 10, on the periphery of each of which are suitably disposed pistons 11.

The rotor 9 is provided with an elongated from the shaft 15, one end of which is mounted in the bearing 4 and the other end of which is mounted in the bearing recess 16 of a driven shaft 17, mounted in the bearing 4. The rotor 10 is. provided with a concentric but sleeved shaft 18, mounted to rotate about the shaft 15 on the bearings 19 and 20. There is another shaft 21 within the shaft 15, which has an angular end 22 in a cor-y responding recess 'in the driven shaft 17. The shaft 21 projects through the outer end of the shaft 15 and' carries a pulley 23 by means of which a belt may be driven for a fan circulating pump or other element to be driven. On the extreme outer end of the shaft 21 is a clutch member 24 by means of which the shaft 17 may be turned over in the usual wa common to hand cranked engines, or a se f-starter may be employed, if desired.

The shaft 17 is the driven shaft or power shaft of the motor and it receives its mot-ion iston rotor` shafts 15 and 18 through lin age which lplanetates about the axis of the motor and about the axis of the driven shaft 17.

The linkage is best shown in detail in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. There is a linkage carrier operated from the power or drlvenv shaft 17.

l3() co-operates with a similar portion 30',

which is a continuation of the wall or arm men1ber27 and in spacedl relation therewith by the web 26. T he ends of the menibers 30 and 30 are provided with bearings 31 and 32 in which is a two-throw crank shaft 33, having crank pins 34 and 35 arranged at 180 degrees apart. The crank pins are connected to crank arms 3G and 37, rigid with the shafts 15 and 18 respectively, these arms 36 and 37 being connected to the crank pins by links 38 and 39, the opposite ends of the arms36 and 37 having counter weights 40 and 4l to balance them with re- Spect to the links. The crankshaft 33 is provided with diametrically opposite counter weights 42 and 43, as will be clearly apparent by reference to Fig. 3.

The'linkage carrier is also provided with counter balance weights 44 and 45, diametrically 'opposite the points at which the crank shaft 33 is supported. The crank shaft 33 is provided at one end with a fly wheel 46 an at the other with a pinion gear 47 which may consist of a single herring bone gear im meshing with a corresponding gear 48, rigid with the crank shaft bearing 4 so that the Another important feature of this invention is that the connecting rods on one side of a plane to the crank shaft and motor axis and the piston crank pins to which the connecting rods or links are fastened are all in a plane parallel to the motor axis and in alignment to a plane parallel to the motor axis of dead center position, which is the beginning at the piston stroke. The purpose of this arrangement is to make possible the dead center arrangement shown and toprovide a piston movement which is practically a uniform accelerated and retarded move ment of the respective pairs of pistons.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified piston and crank arrangement in which the mechanism is designed for three pairs of pistons controlled by a crank shaft having three throws or crank pins equally spaced about the crank Shaft center. In other words, the crank pins are 120 degrees apart. In this construction the gear ratio will be two-toone, or substantially like that shown in the preferred form.

In this form 15' designates the inner piston shaft, 18'v the intermediate piston shaft, and 49 the outer piston shaft. The piston shaft 15', through its rotor, carries pistons 50 and 51; the shaft 18', throughiits rotor, carries pistons 52 and 53, and the shaft 49, through its rotor, is connected to pistons 54 and 55'. The shafts 15', 18 and 49 carry cranks o r arms 15", 56 and 57 respectively, which are connected to the cranks 58, 59 and 6() of the crank shaft 33 through connecting rods or links 61, 62 and 63.

In the diagram in Fig. 4 the pistons are moving in a contra-clockwise direction. The pistons 52 and 54 are shown at the end of the compression stroke and ready to iire; the piston 5() is about midway of its expansion stroke; piston 55 is in position to permit exhaust between pistons 50 and 53;

the space between 55 and 53 is beingscavenged; a charge is being drawn in between pistons 51 and 55, and a charge `is being compressed between 51 and 54.

It will be noted that at the dead centerk position, which is the beginning of the piston stroke with the charge compressed-l between pistons 52 and 54 and ready to ire so as to impart a working stroke to the pistons 52 and 54, the piston cranks 56 and 57 with their pins and the crank pins 59 and 60 and the connecting rods 62 and 63, are all in alignment in the dead center position and that as the crank shaft revolves from this position in a plane parallel to the motor axis, the working stroke between pistons 52 and 54 will be accomplished.

It .will be noted that in the position described, piston 50 is advancing under a working stroke from a previous explosion, and that, through its crank arm 15" and connecting link 61 to crank pin 58,0f the crank shaft, is imparting a rotating force to the crank shaft when the other crank pins and pistons are' in dead center relationship.. It will also b'e noted that piston 51 is performing a lcompression stroke for a succeeding charge.

It will be apparent thatcwith the construction shown in Fig. 4 there will be s ix working ystrokes per revolution of the driven shaft, as distinct frpm four in the construction shown in Figs. l to 3. However, in other respects, the same generic principles Vembodied in the preferredcform are carried out inthe form sh'own in 4.

What .I claim and desireitogsecure by Letters Patent is: Q 1. In a rotary four pycle, combustion motor, a cylindrical casing, pairs of pistons therein rotating about a common axis having relative movement to compress fuel charges to combustible pressures, means for i gniting the compressed charges, a driven shaft, and mechanism for connecting thepistons to the driven shaft comprising a carrier ,rotatable with the driven shaft, a crank shaft mounted in said carrier, connecting shaft, and mechanism for connecting the pistons to the driven shaft comprising` a carrier rotatable with the driven shaft, a crank shaft mounted in said carrier, connecting rods on the crank pins of the crank shaft and eccentrics connecting the connect- .ing rods to the pistons, the eccentrics, crank pins, crank shaft and connecting rods being in alignment in a plane passing through the crank shaft axis parallel with the axis of the motor at dead center position.

3. In a rotary four cycle combustion motor, a cylindrical casing, pairs of pistons therein rotating about a common axis having relative movement to compress fuel charges to combustible pressures, means for igniting the compressed charges, a driven shaft, and mechanism for connecting the pistons to the driven shaft comprising a carrier ro tatable with the driven shaft, a crank shaft mounted in said carrier, connecting rods on the crank pins of the crank shaft andA eccentrics connecting the connecting rods to the pistons, said eccentrics and connecting rods iccl being disposed on one side of a plane passing through the crank shaft and motor axis, the piston eccentrics, crank pins, crank shaft, and connecting rods being in alignment in a plane passing through the crank shaft axis parallel with the axis of the motor at deadl driven shaft comprising a carrier rotatable with the driven shaft having aligning crank shaftbearings in spaced relation, a crank shaft mounted in s aid bearings and havin cranks in the space between the bearings,

levers rotatable with the pistons, connectingv rods connecting the levers to the cranks of the crank shaft, counter weights on the 1levers diametrically opposite the points at which they are connected to the connecting rods, and a counterbalance weight on the carrier diametrically opposite the crank shaft.

5. In a rota-ry four cycle combustion motor, a cylindrical casing, pairs of pistons therein rotating about a 'common axis having relative movement to compress fael charges to combustible pressures, means for igniting the compressed charges, a driven shaft, and mechanism for connecting the pistons to the driven shaft comprising a carrier rotatable with the driven shaft having aligning crank shaft bearings in spaced relation, a crank shaft mounted in said bearings and having cranks in the space between the bearings, levers rotatable with the pistons, connecting rods connecting the levers to the cranks of the crank Shaft, counter weights on the levers diametrically opposite the points 'at which they are connected to the connect- 25` ing rods, a counterbalance weight Von the carrier diametrically opposite the crank shaft, and a fiy Wheel on the crank shaft.

6. In a rotary four cycle combustion motor, a cylindrical casing, pairs of pistons therein rotating about a common axis having relative movement to compress fuel charges to combustible pressures, means for igniting the compressed charges, a driven shaft, and mechanism for connecting the pistons to the driven shaft comprising a carrier rotatable With the driven shaft having aligning crank lshaft bearings in spaced relation, a crank shaft mounted in said bearings and having cranks in the space between the bearings, levers rotatable with the pistons, conneotlng rods connecting the levers to the cranks of the crank shaft, counter weights on the levers diametrically opposite the points at which they are connected to the connecting rods, a counterbalance weight on the carrier dianietrically opposite the crank shaft, a fly wheel on the crank shaft, a rigid gear, and a gear on the end of the crank shaft distant from the fiy wheel and rigid with the meshing gear.

7. A Inotor comprising a casing having a circinni'ercntial cylinder, rotors in the casing having pistons in the cylinder, a shaft having a short end projecting from, one side of one, rotor and a long end projecting from the other side: of said rotor, a shaft on the complementary rotor projecting from one side only and sleeved on the long end of the first named shaft, a third shaft in axial alignment with the first two shafts and having a recess to provide a bearing for the long end of the first-named shaft, a bearing in the casing for the short end of the first-named shaft, driving connections between the first two shafts and the. third shaft, and a fourth shaft projecting through the axialcenter of the first-named shaft and having positive enga gement -with the driven shaft7 one end of the fourth shaft extending beyond the short end of the first shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK A. BULLINGTON. 

